Buckle.



` .J. A; WHEELER', JR.

BUCKLE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, 1909.

964,136., Patented July 12, 1910.

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NrrE s'AEs AT T FFT@ JOHN A. WHEELER, JR., OF WEST MEDFORD,MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO ALMA MANUFACTURING COMPANY OF BALTIMORE CITY,OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A

CORPORATION OF MARYLAND.

BUCKLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed .Tune 25, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. WHEELER, Jr., a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at West Medford, in the county of Middlesex,Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Buckles,of which the following description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, is a specification, like numerals on the drawings representinglike parts.

This invention relates to buckles and is designed to provide a buckle ofsimple and cheap construction having great facility of adjustment andeifectiveness.

The character of this invention may be best understood by reference tothe following description of an illustrative embodiment thereof shown inthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan View of the detached illustrative buckle; Fig.2 is a transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectionsimilar to Fig. 2 showing a strap end in process of adjustment in thebuckle; and Fig. t is a section similar to Fig. 3 showing the strap endadjusted and secured in place.

Referring tothe drawings, the preferred illustrative constructionconsists of an integral body suitably stamped to provide a flanged rimportion 5 and a strap attaching means for preferably permanentattachment of one strap end, this being eXempli lied by the strapattaching bar 7, over which (Fig. 3) the strap end 9 is folded andstitched in the form of a loop. This bar does not lie in the plane ofsaid rim, but de pends or is offset therefrom (Fig. 2) for a purpose tobe more fully hereinafter described. The portions of the rim 5 lying onthe o posite sides of said bar constitute lever en s, one of the latterbeing provided with strap engaging means for the free strap end 11 andin the illustrative buckle comprises spurs 15 which may be integral withthe remainder of the buckle and herein project downwardly from the inneredge of one end 17 and curve outwardly or away from the opposite end 19of the buckle.

Fig. 3 illustrates the manner in which the illustrative construction ofbuckle may be conveniently adjusted. The free strap end 11 is introducedunder the lever or bearing end 19 over the oiset bar 7 and the fixedstrap end thereon and thence downwardly under the curved spurs 15beneath the opposite end 17. The openings at each side of said barfacilitate the insertion of the free strap end as described. This freeend 'may be pulled in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3 untiladjusted as desired and since the spurs 15 are curved or project in thedirection of said pull they will not materially oppose the passage ofthe strap, the latter being merely guided thereby. l/Vhen, however, thestrap is released it will tend to draw against the points of said spursand the latter will engage and retain said strap as shown in Fig. 4. Thespurs herein project downwardly substantially to the level of the top ofthe bar 7, the thickness of the attached strap thereon being suiiicientto force the free strap end against said points.

The coperation of the lever end 19 with the parts above described ishighly advantageous. lWhen the buckle and strap ends are assembled asshown in Fig. 4, the pull on the strap end 11, tends to rock the leverend 19 in the direction of the arrow 21. This is opposed by a liketendency to rock the spurs 15 in the general direction of the arrow 23.These opposed leverage tendencies of the buckle serve to hold the sameflat against the straps and serve additionally to force the spurs intoor against the strap end 11, so that in effect the greater the pull onthe straps the firmer is the engagement by the spurs 15.

The operation of the described illustrative construction is very simpleand edective. To secure the free strap end to the buckle it is merelynecessary to pass said end under the lever end 19 over the bar 7 andunder the spurs 15 without material tendency to engage the latter. Whensuitably tightened, the strap is released and at once the spurs 15engage the strap and securely hold it in place.

By oifsetting the intermediate bar 7 from the plane of the rim 5 thefree strap end 11 is permitted to pass through the buckle insubstantially one plane (Fig. 4) and beneath the top of the bucklethereby reducing the wear on the strap to a minimum and-presenting avery neat appearance. The spurs being on the under side of the concealedand their oints protected by the attached strap end beneath the freestrap end and thus there are no projecting, impaling points to catch oncontiguous articles.

buckle are By introducing the free end of the strap at one side of thebuckle and securing it by spurs at the opposite side there is no looseend extending across the face of the buckle with liability to workloose, but the strap end is always held fiat and tight against the bar7, the pull on the strap ends contributing to this effect.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificembodiment above described for purposes of illustration, but thedescribed construction can be variously modified without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention.

Claim:

A buckle, having a flanged rim, a bar offset from the rim into a planebelow said rim and arranged between its ends and adapted to receive theattaching strap, the ends of the rim on opposite sides of said bar beinglever ends and one of said lever ends having spurs projecting downwardlytherefrom substantially to the level of the top of the bar and curvedaway from said bar, so that the attaching strap and the attached strapwhen engaged by said spurs may extend level through the buckle below itstop surface and the spurs concealed within the straps, the attachingstrap extending inthe direction of curvature of the spurs and theattached strap engaging the spurs from the opposite direction andthereby imparting opposition strains upon the buckle and causing itslever ends to bind upon the straps.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN A. VHEELER, JR.

Vitnesses:

HENRY T. VILLIAMS, InvING U. TowNsENn.

